The exhibition scheduled to take place between July 26 and August 15 at Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kicukiro District will feature 500 exhibitors from 23 countries across the world compared to 15 countries last year.

This enabled payment technology will be used right from entrance.

Upon arrival at any of the 10 gates of the exhibition ground, a client with the card that is usually used in city transport-commonly known as Tap&Go will tap on a card sensor/reader in front of an agent who will be verifying if the card is loaded with required entry fee – Rwf 500.

The agent will also sell the Tap&Go cards to those that don’t have them at Rwf 500 or help clients to recharge their cards.

“We decided to use this technology to ease accessibility and reduce queues at the entrance,” Stephen Ruzibiza, PSF Chief Executive Officer(CEO) said on Wednesday.

“Many city dwellers now own the cards which is an advantage.”

According to PSF officials, clients who will not be interested in buying a card will also pay an agent the required entry fee to tap for them using his/her own card.

Currently, 1.2 million cards have been sold while 50,000 more cards were printed for potential clients.

Once inside, the clients will also be facilitated to use other means rather than liquid cash to buy what they need; mobile money transactions are encouraged, and so are transactions with cards.

However, liquid money inside will also be in use as usual.

Meanwhile, the new countries that will make their first participation at the Rwanda International Trade Fair include; Japan, Nepal, Gambia, Benin Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Congo Brazzaville and Togo.

Ruzibiza says, the good business environment in Rwanda attracts exhibitors.